TikToker Coach Jackie's sapphic twist on March Madness

Is she gay or does she just coach women’s basketball? TikTok star Coach Jackie investigates

Footage still via TikTok @jcubedhax; Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

From left: TikTok star Coach Jackie and Princeton Tigers Head Coach Carla Berube.

March Madness gets a sapphic twist with this popular new series

Women’s sports are definitely having a moment. Between WNBA star Angel Reese scoring her own signature meal and commercial at McDonald's, rugby finally getting a semi-pro women’s league with Women’s Elite Rugby starting this month, the Professional Women’s Hockey League gaining popularity, and people finally paying attention to the women’s side of March Madness, female athletes are finally getting their due.

But as March Madness ramps up, one question is on the minds of sapphic basketball fans everywhere: are these coaches gay?

TikTok star Coach Jackie J (@jcubedhax), who has devoted her platform to celebrating women’s sports, has created a new series called “Is She Gay or Does She Just Coach Women’s Basketball?” to answer this very question, and fans are obsessed.

Unlike most sports, collegiate women’s basketball is mostly coached by women, so coach Jackie is spending the entire month of March Madness investigating whether or not these coaches are queer, and the funny, tongue-in-cheek videos have become so popular they’re quickly racking up views on the social media app.

@jcubedhax
Replying to @Julia something silly to distract from injury despair #wbb #marchmadness #wlw #gay

In the videos, Coach Jackie picks a female coach and looks through their social media to analyze their photos in an attempt to figure out if they swim in the lady pond.

Crouching on the sidelines? Gay. Thin belt? Straight. Single hairband on the wrist? Gay. Blousy shirt? Straight. Muscular arms on display? Definitely gay!

So far, Coach Jackie made episodes of “Is She Gay or Does She Just Coach Women’s Basketball?” on Princeton University coach Carla Berube, Michigan’s Kim Barnes, Baylor head coach Nicki Collen, and the newest episode is on Harvard’s Carrie Moore.

@jcubedhax
Replying to @alabamafella who’s next? #wlw #wbb #ncaa #marchmadness #gay

If you’re keeping track, so far, Coach Jackie has found that Berube and Moore are both sapphic ladies, while Collen and Barnes are sadly straight as an arrow.

By far, the most entertaining part of each video in the series is when she finally announces what team these coaches play for, and we mean that metaphorically, not literally!

Coach Jackie’s made-up songs at the end of the videos are hilarious. Her video on Berube ends with her singing, “Yes, she’s gay. She’s got a wife named Meghan, and they’ve got three kids, and they’re a big happy gay family.”

@jcubedhax
who should I do next??? #wbb #ncaa #marchmadness #wlw #gay

The popular videos have been picking up steam with her video on Berube siting at 1.3 million views on TikTok and even more on Instagram Reels.

These aren’t the only videos Coach Jackie makes. She also posts videos on breaking women’s sports news, highlights under-represented sports, celebrates big wins, and makes heartwarming and inspirational videos about women beating the odds to have successful careers in sports.

But the real reason she seems to be so popular among women’s sports enthusiasts, casual viewers, and brand-new sports fans is because of her infectious energy and passion for women's sports. Her love of sports and women athletes is contagious.

@jcubedhax
Replying to @soph 🌈 it’s honor code to keep track of how many you get right this season!!#wbb #wlw #marchmadness #ncaa

Coach Jackie isn’t done with March Madness yet, though. Not only is she covering all of the breaking news to come out of the NCAA tournament, but she plans to keep this fun series going for the rest of the month!

So, in the words of resident women’s sports expert and super fan Coach Jackie, “Athletes play in March Madness, fans play Is She Gay or Does She Just Coach Women’s Basketball.”